Radio apparatus



Jan. 5, 1932. w c. CRIMMINS 1,839,367

RADIO APPARATUS Filed Jan. 9, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig-"Z I 76 2/\E I a it W uINVEZTZR 56-4 (l ATTO NEY Jan. 5, 1932. w. c. CRIMMINS RADIO APPARATUS Filed Jan. 9, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTOR William C. Cmmmms- 4 wILLIAM c. cnnvnvrms, or OAK- raan, rumors, essrenonro enresny enunowcoiu- Patented Jan. 5, 1932 H PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS PATENTOOFFICE nAnro Arrian 'rUs Application filed January 9, 1930. Serial No."419,5?7.

ing a stationary central portion and an annular intermittently rotating turret provided with a plurality of ports is used. :The

ports are connected through suitable valves and piping to exhaust pumps. Into eachport the tubulation of a vacuum tube is inserted. The turret indexes or moves from one position to another a distance, equal to that-between ports, and during a complete revolution passes the tube through an oven to bake the glass, brings'it successively under the influence of a plurality of high frequency coils to heat the electrodesand finally to a tipping off mechanism i where the tube leaves the machine.

During the "processing of the tube on a exhaust'machine, it is necessary to heat the cathode to varying degrees, depending upon the position of the tube. To do this, contact making mechanism on each side of every Commutating switches are provided to energize the cathodes at each position.

The contact making mechanism or lead clamps adjacent the ports for connecting the tube'leads to the current source have usually consisted of a pair of spring members between which the leads were to be retained. In practice, however, it has been found that due to dirt as well as the unevenness of the surface of the metallic spring members, the

leads were frequently loosely maintained and sometimes were even free of the contact making mechanlsm. Under these circumstances, often no contact, or poor contact, occurred with the consequent failure of processing of the cathode. Inasmuch as this defect became apparent only when the tube was finally finished and tested and resulted in a complete loss of the tube, a serious waste was involved. l

An object of this invention is to devise lead clamps which-will be positive, provide afirm contact at all times, and be simple in operation. In general, the mechanism consists of a pluralityof-members mountedadjacent each port,at'least one of said members being pivotally mounted, and, with the remaining members, adapted to form a scissorlike clamp which will maintain lead wires in firm contact.

In its simplest preferred form, my invention consists of a pair of metal members having slotted ends, between which is mounted a third member adapted to pivot in such manner that whena wire is placed in the slot-of the two members,the third member Wlll v wedge the wire firmly into place. Means are provided for automatically open ing and closing the'lea'd clamp at predetermined positions of eachport.

vReferring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top view of a portion of an exhaust machine provided with a form of my improved lead clamps; Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of the clamps 1n open and closed positions, respectively;

Fig. 4 is a detailview of one of the com- 1 mutating switch elements; port is connected to the tube leads to energize the cathode.

t'urret 2 is adapted. to be intermittently indexed. Turret 2 is provided'with apluralityof ports 3, each of whichis connected by suitable piping to exhaust pumps. Into each port a tubulation ,5 of a vacuum tube 6 is adapted to be inserted. Leads 8 and 9 of tube 6 are gripped by individual lead clamps l0 and '11. In order to supply current to these clamps, one of each pair; for example, 10,

may be grounded to the machine while 11 is connected by wire to a commutating switch 13. Switches 13 are carried by an annular insulating bar 15' suitably supported by turret 2 and turning therewith. Stationary portion 1 l of the machine is provided with knife blades 17, each of which is connected to a desired source of current. As shown in Fig. 4, switch,

portion 13 comprises two metallic spring members 18 and 19 bolted together at 20 and having a connecting lead 21. A spring 22 surrounding a bolt 23 and provided with an adjusting nut 24 is used to vary the tension of blades 18 and 19. In order to protect the commutating switch portion, a shield 25 covering the central portion. of the exhaust-machinemay be provided. 7

As turret 2 indexes from one position to another, tube 6 is brought into oven and then under the influence of coils 31 to 35, inclusive. Each coil is suitably energized by high frequency and serves to heat the electrodes of the tube so that occluded gases may be removed. In the position beyond coil. 35, the tubes are tipped off and removed from the machine.

New tubes-are inserted into positions adjacent -the=t1pp1ngoft positions.

. The lead clamps on each. side of the port, comprise two metallic members 40 and 41 having slots 42 at their freeends. Members 40 and: 41 may be provided with a commonbase 44 and are insulatingly mounted on turret 2 by means of an insulating block-.45. Pivoted -at 46'is a bell crank lever 47 having avertical arm 48 adapted to move between two members 40 and 41. Arm 48 is provided. with a notch .49, Whose axis is approximately perpendicu- 'lar to the direction of slot 42 in members 40 for gripping the wire.-

and 41 It is clear that if a comparatively soft, flexible wire is inserted in slot 42 oppositethe notch. 49 when the clamp is in open *a roller-51 secured; by a bolt 52. l A cam track 40- 5:3 is suitably supported by stationary portion 1 of the machine and is adapted to automatically operate the clamp at any desired positions. This cam track preferably extends between coil 35 and oven 30 and is provided with end sloping portions 54.

Itisrevident that after a tube has passed 'coil 85 the rollers 51 of the clamps adjacent the tube come up inclined portion 54. of the camtrack and raise arm 47 against spring 50. When the rollers are on the fiat portion 53 of the cam track, the clampis in open position as shown in Fig. 2 and permits the withdrawal of leads 8 and 9. 'Upon the insertion of a new tube into the port, the soft, flexible leads 8 and 9 are disposed'opposite the notch 49 in slots 42 which are open. When the tube is indexed to the oven, rollers 51 are free of cam track 53, permitting spring to pull arm 47 down. and locking the clamp.

It is obvious that instead. ofthe central member being movable, the two outer members 40 and 41 may be movable. If desired, only one stationary member may be. provided It is clear that once the leads have been inserted into slots 42 and the clamp closed, it is practically impossible for the leads of the tube to become loose. Due to the shearing action at the edges of the clamp good contact results under all conditions.

VVha-t I claim is 1. An exhaust machine havin an intermittently indexing turret provided with a plurality of ports, a. lead clamp disposed adjacent every port, saidclamp comprising-two relatively rotatable slotted members and means. for causing one of said members to sweep by said other member whereby any wire inserted in oneof said slots is securely locked.

2.. An exhaust machine having-a-turret P vided with a plurality. of ports, a leadgclamp comprising a stationary member adjace every port, a movable member pivoted tosaid stationary member and adapted to form a pair of locking jaws with said stationary member and means for automatically opening and. closing said jaws. at predetermined index. positions of the turret.

.8- An exhaust machine comprisin a; stationary portion, a turret having a, plurality of ports, a lead'clamp comprising a member .mounted. adjacent every port, a pivotally mounted member adjacent. said. sta ary member and. forming a pair of aws forpositively locking a wire, and. means on; the sta tionary portion. of the machinefor'operating said. aws .at predetermined-indexpositions.

4-. An exhaust machine comprising a stationary portion, a turret adapted to intermittently index. around said'stationary. ortion, said. turret being provided. with. a. p urality of ports, a lead clamp comprising; a. member mounted adjacent every port, anotheemember pivotally mounted thereon adaptedto forma pair. of locking-jaws therewith. and a cam-trackon the stationaryportion:of;-said machine for opening and closing said jaws at predetermined indexgpositions.

5. An exhaust machine having a turret p130- .vided with a plurality of; ports, aleadelamp adj acent: every port comprising two stationary members,a member pivoted'betweensarid stationary members and means forturning said pivoted member so that a WlIe inserted between said-stationary andpivotedmem f is securely locked.

6. An exhaust machine comprising a stationary portion and a turret provided with a plurality of. ports, lead; clampsv adjacent.

every port, each lead clamp comprising a plurality of pivotedmembers and means. for turning certain of said members whereby a shearing action is obtained.

7. An exhaust machine comprising 3. Stationary portion, a turret provided with a plurality of ports, lead clamps adjacent said ports, each lead clamp comprisinga. vertical stationary'member having its free endsslotted, a member pivotal-1y mounted adjacent said stationary member and means for turning said last named member so that its end portion sweeps past the slotted end of the stationary member.

8. An exhaust machine comprising a stationary portion and a turret provided with a plurality of ports, lead clamps adjacent each.

port, each lead clamp comprising slotted members, one of said members being movable, and a cam track on the stationary portion of the machine adapted to operate said movable member'so that said two members tend to shear a Wiredisposed in the slot of one member. 7

9. An exhaust machine having a stationary portion, a turret intermittently indexing from one position to another, said turret being provided with a plurality of ports, lead clamps adjacent each port, means on said clamps for normally maintaining said clamp in a locked position and means on the stationary portion of the machine for automati cally unlocking said clamps at predetermined index positions.

10. An exhaust machine comprising a stationary portion, an intermittently rotating turret, said turret being provided with a plurality of ports, lead clamps adjacent said ports, each lead clamp comprising a plurality of pivoted members, each clamp having slotted end portions, means for normally maintaining said clamps in a locked position and a cam track on the stationary portion for automatically unlocking said clamps at predetermined turret positions.

In testimony whereof he afiixes his signature. a

WILLIAM C. ORIMMINS. 

